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Volume 9 • Issue 16 • April 25 – May 1, 2014
Balloon Fest Set for Saratoga Photo Provided
See Balloon and Craft Festival pg. 15
F r e e saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com • (518) 581-2480
SCR’s Big Week
Featured Stories
- $300 Million East Greenbush Casino Bid - Planned $30 Million Local Expansion Submitted To State
“When one door closes another door opens…”
BALLSTON SPA — Hot air balloons will take flight the weekend of June 20 and highlight the first ever Saratoga Balloon and Craft Festival. The colorful and artistic event, run by Craftproducers, will be at the Saratoga Fair Grounds, starting Friday, June 20 and running through Sunday night, June 22. In addition to the 20-plus hot air balloons with four liftoffs, there will also be a night of the Balloon Glow, or “Moon Glow.” “At sunset, balloons will be lit so you can see the colors of the balloons against the darkness of the night sky,” said Saratoga County Fairgrounds General Manager Jeff Townsend. The gathering of 15 hot air balloons inflating and coming to life at night amidst the Saratoga Fair Ground’s landscape will kick off the first night. If weather doesn’t allow for the Balloon Glow on Friday night, it will be moved to Saturday.
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by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY
by Brian Cremo Saratoga TODAY
I n d e p e n d e n t
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Never has the above expression been truer for Saratoga Casino and Raceway (SCR) than this week.
In a dramatic announcement on Tuesday, April 22 that could prove to have extensive regional economic implications, SCR revealed plans for a $300 million world-class destination resort casino in the Thompson Hill area in the Town of East Greenbush. The Rensselaer County site has strategic proximity to Albany,
the entire Capital Region and, via access to nearby interstate highways, the entire Northeast. At the same time, plans are proceeding with a local $30 million expansion on the SCR grounds. This plan had been originally announced on May 28, 2013 and had been billed as See SCR pg. 13
Malta Ethics See Story pg. 15
“It’s Never too late for Healing” See Story pg. 8, 9
Inside TODAY Blotter 5 Obits
Rowing:
Rendering of proposed hotel at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. Vapor Nite Club appears at right.
by Brian Cremo Saratoga TODAY
Invitational Set to be Biggest Yet
6, 7
Business
10, 11
Education
18, 19
Gigs 28 Sports
36, 40
Weekend Forecast
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 17th annual Saratoga Invitational will feature the first ever 10-lane regatta course in the United States and the highest number of boats ever hosted at the event. Saratoga Rowing Association Regatta Director Chris Chase See SRA pg. 39
FRIDAY
63|42 SATURDAY
54|38 SUNDAY Photo by Deborah Neary
55|36